Comparison · Light vs Lago
Light vs Lago
Lago is an open-source billing platform that meters usage, prices subscriptions, usage-based and hybrid plans, issues invoices and syncs them to accounting software such as NetSuite or Xero. Light is one agentic ledger where customer invoicing, deferred revenue, bills, cards and consolidation sit in the same books.
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Light and Lago, compared
| Feature | Light | Lago |
|---|---|---|
| One system for billing and the general ledgerLago: invoices, credit notes and payments sync to NetSuite or Xero, where the general ledger lives | Yes | No |
| Group consolidation and intercompany eliminationsLago: bills from several legal entities, each with its own numbering, currency and tax settings | Yes | No |
| Accounts receivable and customer invoicingLago: automated invoices, credit notes, taxes and dunning, with payments collected through Stripe, Adyen or GoCardless | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription billing and deferred revenueLago: subscription, usage-based, prepaid and hybrid pricing; deferred revenue reports in private beta | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts payable and vendor bill payLago: covers the revenue side: metering, billing, invoicing and cash collection | Yes | No |
| Corporate and virtual cardsLago: a billing platform; corporate cards sit outside the product | Yes | No |
| Expense capture and approvalsLago: a billing platform; employee expenses sit outside the product | Yes | No |
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The world's most demanding finance teams run on Light.
Bill customers in the books
Lago meters usage, issues invoices and syncs them, with credit notes and payments, to NetSuite or Xero. Light posts contract-based invoicing and deferred revenue straight to its own general ledger, so nothing needs a tie-out.
- 01
Run spend in the same system
Lago covers the revenue side of finance. Light also handles supplier bills, vendor payments, corporate cards and expenses, all posting to the same ledger as your customer invoices.
- 02
Run every entity on one ledger
Lago bills from several legal entities, each with its own numbering, currency and tax settings. Light holds every entity on one ledger and consolidates as transactions post, with intercompany eliminations included.
When to choose Light
- 01
Billing and revenue in the books
Contract invoicing and deferred revenue post straight to the ledger, so nothing needs a tie-out.
- 02
The ledger is included
Light is the system of record: spend, AP, AR and the general ledger in one platform, with no ERP decision left open.
- 03
One ledger for every entity
Add a company, a country or a currency without adding another system.
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fastest growing companies
See how finance teams run lean and global on Light.
Read customer stories-
“We evaluated several vendors. Light won because it covers our full finance stack, revenue, AR, AP, expenses, and consolidation, without stitching together a patchwork of point solutions.”
Tanja, Director of FinanceOmnea -
“Even though we’re three entities, it’s like I’m running a finance department for one entity.”
Thobias, Finance ManagerAlva Labs -
“I really like that Light’s AI already gives me suggestions, GL accounts, cost centers, tax codes. I don’t have to start from scratch.”
Cédric, Finance ManagerOper Credits -
“Nine times out of ten the AI matches everything and posts it to the right account. One click and you’re done.”
Jeppe, CFOKeyShot
Built for the daily work
Bills through to payment
Capture invoices, route approvals and pay vendors from the same system.
Room to grow
One ledger built to handle billions of transactions across your business.
Trace every number
Open a report and drill straight into the transactions behind it.
Spending, under control
Expenses, vendors and cards connected to your ledger.
Expenses
Collect receipts, approve expenses and track spend as it happens.
Vendors
Keep supplier details, bills and approvals together. Apply your purchasing rules as work moves through.
Cards
Issue cards for employees and vendors. Pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Send receipts through Slack, Teams or email.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lago a general ledger?
No. It is a billing platform that syncs customers, invoices, credit notes and payments to accounting software such as NetSuite or Xero. Light is the ledger itself.
Does Lago consolidate entities?
It bills from several legal entities with separate numbering, currency and tax settings; consolidation stays in the accounting system. Light consolidates every entity on one ledger as transactions post.
When does Lago fit?
When usage metering is the core problem, such as token, API or compute pricing at high volume, or when you want to self-host billing and keep NetSuite or Xero as the general ledger.
Does Light handle deferred revenue?
Yes. Light automates contract-based invoicing and deferred revenue in the ledger, and computes ARR, MRR, NRR and churn from the ledger and your contracts.
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